Jerez sorry for being on your case...but this topic has been bugging you.
But since its holidays and we all chilled i guess the conversation will go down fine.
M cars are special, and deserves that special look and admiration, only a jeolous fool would not recognise that.
But the game changed with the arrival of the first turbocharged 335. Bmw decided to break tradition and produce a petrol turbocharged car after the last turbo 2002. The M3 V8 (e92) (NA) made its bow at a time of this historic eclipse in bmw history. No one knew, not even the Bmw marketers, that its lesser turbo sibbling was going to become its biggest rival in performance, popularity, iconic status and sheer market dominance.
I told my story before but to recap:
I heard during early 2006 that a Bmw petrol turbo charged car was going to come to SA. None of the dealers i approached knew about this...so i was very disapointed and put it down to bad rumours.
I ordered the M3 v8 which was meant to be launched in SA in 2006 and we expected a long waiting list for the M3, not realising it will be the last of its kind.
I then got a call from a friend of mine in Vienna telling me he saw a 335 in the city and the car was definitely built and will hit showroom floors internationally.
I took a plane to austria and saw the 335 of a customer and it had already eisenman exhaust etc...man i was crazy excited.
Back in SA the dealers still had no clue what i was talking about. Then during sept 2006 i got a call from my dealership to say my car had arrived. I thought it was the M3 and told the wife we have to go and fetch our baby...i took out my ordered spec sheet of the M3...just to make sure it had all my options fitted and off we went to Forsdicks to collect.
Got there and i dont see any M3 e92. Only a black m3 e46 ( brand new) with a sold sticker on. I thought nope cant be mine.
The sales lady came to me and could see my puzzlement. She said. I got your fully specced baby...come let me show you... ( i have known this sales person for many years)...in the corner of the showroom was an unassuming car with a cover over it. I had absolutely no clue...i was expecting the M.
As she wrap open the twin tailpipes i knew...i sat in that car for a long while and cried...i was totally smitten and still is.
The x35 in 335 guise is an incredible machine and nothing...just nothing excites me as much as this car does. Bought the facelifted version a few years later as well. The rest is history.
I found out that i was not alone enjoying the new turbo technology at the time...Sherwin from xcede also bought one at the time :thumbs:
Buying an M car, whether the previous Ms or the current M3 or even the new M5 is a non monetary issue for me...i can choose any of them simply bacause i can.
Unfortunately, in the Bmw fraternity your status is determined by the designated model beemer you drive...so if you drive an M car your status in the rankings is higher than those driving a 330 and if you drive a 320 or a 116 you right at the bottom of the status log.
But i have experienced in the BMW clubs and on this forum especially at public events...the guys dont actually care what model car you drive; neither are your social status judged based on whether you drive a e36 or an e90 or an M car...appreciation are expressed across the board irrespective of the badge designation.
Unfortunately, it has also been a hard pill to swollow for M owners that the M3 V8 was not the King of the road as the e46 M3 was....now that was an outright winner and King on the road and on the track with no challenger, even its big brother M5 had to live in the shadow of popularity of the e46 M3.
The first 335 was the M3 e92 worse nightmare...
And NO i wont buy the M3 e92 even if i can afford two of them. I hope i have said it as bluntly as i can...sick and tired of this kak debate. I will wait for a turbocharged M3 to do what the 335 does and much more.
